Tiger Stone brick road laying machine [2187x1640] [OC]

Here is an article on the machine. I've read about a while ago, but last weekend I stumbled across one IRL and took this picture. While not great, I'm quite happy with the quality of pictures my Galaxy S3 shoots.

For those wondering why brick roads are so popular in the Netherlands, there are a few reasons. First they are only used in places where traffic is relatively slow <50km/h. Rural roads or city streets. They are good at removing the rain through infiltration in the cracks. We have a shit-load of clay so bricks are very cheap to manufacture.

Brick roads don't get potholes as easily, and damaged bricks can simply be replaced, the roads can have lifetimes between 50-100 years. If cables or pipes need to be laid under the road you just lift the bricks dig, fill, and put the bricks back in.

Driving or cycling over brick if they are laid well isn't as bumpy as you'd think.

This has got me curious; The region I currently live in (Western Pennsylvania, US), contains the word "slippy" (as opposed to "slippery") as part of its vernacular. Used in the same way you do here. Is it common for people speaking English in the Netherlands to say "slippy" instead of "slippery"?

Also, the Tiger Stone is one of the most awesome things I have seen on this sub, and that's really saying something. Thanks for posting it!

My small American town had bricks for ~100 years. I can attest to their huge advantages.

For low-speed roads, they are vastly superior to asphalt and/or concrete. They simply do not wear out. Many of the bricks that were laid in the early 1900's still had some surfacing on them before our city replaced them. When the asphalt is worn down, at times you can see the bricks in immaculate condition underneath.

Of course, as you said, driving over 50kmh (35mph) is very difficult, as it becomes prohibitively bumpy. But for inner-city travel by bike or small vehicle, its fantastic.

Just got back on Monday from a week vacation in which we drove around basically every part of the Netherlands. I can confirm there are no hills. Except for maybe the parts of the roads that lead up to the top of the dykes.

Drove in from Antwerp to Vught then through Utrecht to Zwolle and Ommen. Then took a day trip through Giethoorn, Emmeloord, and Urk and back to Ommen. Day trip from Ommen to Amsterdam and back. Ommen to Assen to Gronigen to Schiermonnikoog. Schiermonnikoog across the Aufsluitdijk to Zaanstad and back to Amsterdam. Never saw any hills of merit that I recall, apart from the dunes on Schiermonnikoog. I guess maybe next time we should spend more time in North Brabant and Limburg? :P